Charlie Rose

Globull  02/21/2009 08:59 AM Report

If George Mitchell can get by fanatical Zionists like Clinton, Biden and (son of Israeli terrorist) Emmanuel to brief Obama on the TRUTH about the Israeli Occupation and massacre of the Palestinian people we might have a chance for real peace.

At least Charlie Rose allows people like Jimmy Carter and Rashid Khalidi to discuss what's really happening in Gaza. For Israel to slaughter countless innocent Palestinian women and children in response to Hamas "bottle rocket" attacks, WHICH HAVE KILLED ONE ISRAELI over the years, just boggles the mind.

We can have a just peace in the mideast or another 9/11. Obama can make a difference. All he has to do is tell AIPAC and other sinister organizations to get out of the White House. And putting people like Douglas Feith on trial for treason and war crimes would be icing on the cake.

tartufe  01/28/2009 12:39 AM Report

Obama is a work-in-progress in failure. All the more poignant by comparison to 'hope.' Three main areas of failure: 1. economy, 2. ME, 3. A-P (Afghanistan-Pakistan).

The economy. Confidence. The world and domestically would be vastly encouraged if the perps were prosecuted rather than rewarded. Instead of bailouts they need to be left to 'natural-economics,' failure. This would have the salving effect of cleansing the gangeneous corruption that created the collapse. Citigroup et al, and the hedge fund wise-guys (too clever by fractions) should repay all bailout money, fined out of existence and incarcerated. The moral hazard would be solved instantaneously. THE PAIN WE AS A NATION ARE ENDURING IS INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU REALIZE THE PERPETRATORS ARE LAUGHING UP THEIR SLEEVES IN OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS.

Passing out newly printed money that our grandchildren have to repay is merely assuring our dimished status indefinitely. And our climate doesn't support many bananas.

ME. The animal called Israel has lost all rational reasons for support. In fact to do so is counterproductive to humanity. Their unabashed brutalization of their young into indiscriminantly killing 1300 Gazans vs 13 Israelis (100:1), is worthy of the world's and our contempt.

Obama's response. More assurance that Israel deserves to protect themselves. Is there a Gander amongst these Geese? (100:1) After a half century of humiliation, they exacerbate it by fire-bombing their children with phosphorous missles. In more than one school. One-third, or 400+ children murdered by these inhumane slobbering animals.

A-P. Obama, by knowledge through daily briefs, is now complicit as Bush in condoning drone-fired missles into Pakistani villages killing more innocents than bad guys, thus recruitung more of the latter. In short the M-I complex oligarch is (still) in control. We will leave (ultimately). Our mission-creep (or creepy mission) exhausted, with more hate and enemies than when we arrived. So what's new?

Recent developments: Obama excepts a Raytheon lobbyist from exclusion, proving the M-I oligarch strangle hold on our government. We've never met a conflict that we wouldn't embrace. Profiteers arise!

chrisbak  01/25/2009 10:57 PM Report

This was a very robust discussion of the issues in which Rashid Khalidi was especially eloquent. It's truly tragic that all that suffering in Gaza, and to a far lesser extent in Israel, won't change a thing in Congress.

LucyK  01/18/2009 03:11 PM Report

In response to the posts by ShalomFreedman, I want to remind this person that there is a difference between the Sunni and Shia, and that mainstream Islam is very different from radical fundamentalist Islam.

There are sunni countries that have a cordial relationship with Israel, and with whom ISRAEL works very hard to have diplomatic and trade relations.

Obviously ShalomFreedman has not lived in the region nor is he acquainted with people in the region.

IGNORANCE is the problem with many people who have limited exosure to all sides of the issue. People know what Rubin has to say; the general lack of exposure to the Palestinian point of view is what makes the dialogue of this episode so essential to helping viewers have an informed opinion. Information and knowledge should not be feared or scorned.

ShalomFreedman  01/18/2009 04:57 AM Report

I want to make one basic point which Messrs. Cohen, Makovsky, Khalidi refuse to even consider. It is that the 'other side' for Israel is not simply Hamas, Hizbollah, Fatah, but it is also Al- Quaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, the ayotallahs and mullahs in Iran, the Wahhabis and Salafis, radical Islamic fundamentalism, Islamism everywhere. Peace can come only if there are two sides who want it. The parties I mentioned are almost all unwilling to not only recognize Israel but consider the possibility that Jews might after all be human beings. The total obliviousness to the actual character of the other side makes this discussion and so many others like them simply unrealistic and irrelevant.

Can't Charlie Rose dig up a few people who actually are experts on this area? Let me recommend just one who could put all the people on this panel in his little pocket, Barry Rubin. Charlie should invite him. He would provide a realistic idea of the complexities of this area, and what peace- loving people can expect from it.

ShalomFreedman  01/17/2009 06:10 PM Report

This was a one- sided, unfair anti- Israel discussion. Khalidi is a liar in claiming that more than half of the casualties are civilians. Israeli authorities put the figure at twenty - percent.

No one mentions the nature of Hamas as terrorist organization nor its total military defeat by Israel. They claimed that they would defeat Israel and cause it thousands of casualties. All their Iranian aid and training did not help them.

Cohen and Khalidi claim Hamas will be strengthened by this operation. But I do not think the citizens of Gaza if given a chance would express gratitude to an organization which has moved them from poverty to greater poverty and suffering.

There is too a strategic dimension of this whole operation which is not at all considered here. The Israeli defeat of Hamas is the first defeat Iran has suffered in its effort to be the controlling power of the Middle East.

No one too said anything about the 'fighting strategy' of Hamas which consisted primarily in firing rockets at Israel's civilian population and placing its own 'fighters' behind and within the civilian population. The civilian casualties came after all not because Israel caused them deliberately but rather because it responded to fire coming from places where the terrorists hid themselves amid civilians.

It would nice if just one time Charlie Rose had a spokesman in these Middle East decisions who was actually 'for' Israel, understood the reality there.

Cohen does not even know how to pronounce the name of the major Palestinian organization 'Fatah' properly. Some Middle East expert.

Christopher  01/17/2009 05:37 AM Report

Great show, good conversation. This is the best show to get info on this conflict. Roger Cohen's analysis is impeccable. Nevertheless, the situation seems so hopeless. 1000 Palestinians dead. I can't perceive peace without Israel getting out of the West Bank to the 67 borders which are recognized throughout the world. It is difficult for Israel to play the victim because they are so much stronger, yet their civilian populations keep getting hit (and aimed at...). And that is difficult for many Israelis to swallow. I think the situation is hopeless.

gabriel2001  01/17/2009 02:47 AM Report

Khalidi is outraged about Israel defending itself from Hammas rockets. Why isn't he as outraged about Hamas taking over Gaza and turning it into a de facto military base and using it's civilians as a shield for their agression?

tartufe  01/17/2009 12:57 AM Report

Need elaboration / clarification re UN mandate for Palestine. What would this accomplish? Why is it a solution?

REMant  01/16/2009 05:38 PM Report

With Bob Simon, I don't think a 2-state solution is possible anymore. I'm not sure it was even before the settlements. This is the umteenth such uprising since the Balfour Declaration 100 yrs ago. I agree with the general assessment that the Israelis have become bullies and the situation is not unlike apartheid. I don't see further association with them in any respect as in our national interest and I think the world has appeased them long enough. We should withdraw our aid, our ambassador and our recognition, and add them to the list of rogue states. Tho they may have got away with this till now, I have no doubt that without outside aid or protection Israel would cease to exist in short order. While the Jews must accept that Zionism and the immigration of millions of Jews is the root cause of the problem, Western countries need to see that they were wrong in precipitating that settlement and recognizing the Jewish state, so I would offer the parties a solution to the 1948 and 1967 wars in the formation of a new UN mandate for Palestine, which ought easily to pass, and to which I think it would be fairly easy to get Lebanon and Jordan, which have sizable numbers of refugees, to join. Under this administration the question of property rights should be addressed tho it will not be easy to solve, but I do think that further violence can be avoided with the cooperation and commitment of the US and other Arab states to this plan, and a strong commitment to shutting down the camps, and restraining the theocrats who have thrived in this environment.

LucyK  01/16/2009 04:12 PM Report

I hope that Secretary-of-State-elect Clinton will seek input from Professor Khalidi on creating a fair, humanitarian, two-state solution. Having a resolution to this crisis would be quite an accomplishment.